6. "We Are All Only Temporarily Abled": Dr. Joan Chan on the Math of Human Bodies and Reclaiming Empty Space

6. "We Are All Only Temporarily Abled": Dr. Joan Chan on the Math of Human Bodies and Reclaiming Empty Space

In this episode of Trudi Lebrón is Ambitious and Exhausted, Trudi sits down with Dr. Joan Chan—a family physician, medical educator, and Institute for Equity-Centered Coaching alumna who is redefining what it means to care for ourselves and others. Together, they explore the concept of "rehumanizing" our lives and careers by shifting away from toxic overproduction toward sustainable, intentional space. After navigating her own severe burnout while balancing a medical practice and a growing family, Joan began questioning the unsustainable standards embedded in healthcare and corporate systems. This reckoning led her to champion the practice of working under maximum capacity as a baseline design rather than a luxury. When Trudi felt exhaustion showing up in her own body at midlife, she knew connecting with Joan to discuss body constraints, cycle tracking, and reclaiming human limitations was essential. You'll Discover * The Inhuman Standards of Success: Trudi and Joan break down the hidden curriculum in demanding industries that rewards chronic overwork and expects people to ignore basic bodily functions like eating, sleeping, or taking bathroom breaks. * The Reality of Turning 40: Joan shares how reaching 40 brought a louder, "spicier" emotional and physical volume, prompting an active evolution in her personal relationship to ambition. * Working Under Maximum Capacity: A deep dive into Joan's philosophy of designing calendars and workflows around 75% capacity, leaving 25% empty to handle life's inevitable emergencies and to allow room for dreaming. * The Language of Tiny Experiments: Practical strategies for time-strapped individuals to introduce small grains of pleasure or boundary-setting into their daily routines without overcomplicating their schedules. * Attuning to the Body's Cycles: Trudi reflects on her own journey of learning to understand her somatic capacity, track her menstrual cycle, and navigate the physiological renegotiations of midlife adolescence. Key Themes * Creative and professional sustainability requires challenging conventional, extraction-based definitions of success and embracing a "softer," right-sized approach to our workloads. * Embracing empty space on a calendar is a critical requirement for maintaining individual identity and staying connected to who we are outside of our professional production roles. * Recognizing biological and physical limitations is not an optional lifestyle choice; our animal bodies possess fixed boundaries that demand reverence and rest. Featured Voice Dr. Joan Chan, family physician, restorative medical health educator, and podcast host. Her work centers on helping healthcare professionals and everyday individuals rehumanize their workloads, navigate chronic exhaustion, and embrace embodiment. Where to Find Joan * Website: joanchanmd.com [http://joanchanmd.com/] * Instagram: ⁠ ⁠https://www.instagram.com/joanchanmd/ [https://www.instagram.com/joanchanmd/]⁠ * Podcasts: https://www.joanchanmd.com/podcast [https://www.joanchanmd.com/podcast] Trudi's Reflection There is a powerful clarity that comes when your body forces you to stop outrunning your changes. Joan's perspective reminds us that prioritizing space isn't about being lazy or unproductive; it is a literal acknowledgment of our biological realities. By refusing to bleed ourselves dry for unsustainable systems, we open up the possibility to show up fully focused, present, and genuinely human for the things that matter most. About the Host: This podcast is hosted by Trudi Lebrón — writer, entrepreneur, and CEO. A former teen mom turned award-winning author and equity-centered business strategist, Trudi has spent more than two decades designing transformational experiences that reshape how we live, lead, and build community. As the author of The Antiracist Business Book and founder of Transformation by Design, she works at the intersection of psychology, culture, and leadership to help individuals and organizations align their impact with their values. Trudi is also the co-founder of bougieferal.com [https://bougieferal.com/], a lifestyle and learning brand reclaiming luxury, liberation, and wild creative power for women of color. To learn more about Trudi, get on her email list at trudilebron.com. [https://trudilebron.com] Join the Conversation: Has this episode sparked something in you? Trudi invites you to: 1. Leave a review and share how this conversation resonated with you 2. Share this podcast with a leader, coach, or creator who is Ambitious and Exhausted. Let's Connect: 🌐 trudilebron.com [https://www.trudilebron.com/] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trudilebron [https://www.instagram.com/trudilebron] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trudilebron/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/trudilebron/] Working Hypothesis: https://trudilebron.com/ [https://trudilebron.com/] Credits: Intro and outro music: "Come Give Me Love" by King Sis (Epidemic Sound) A Crackers In Soup [https://crackersinsoup.com/] production.

5. "The Audacity to See a Dream": Trudi Lebrón on Reclaiming Creative Space and Building the Residency

In this episode of the podcast, Trudi sits down to share a deeply personal and reflective solo episode, capturing a significant moment of personal and professional realignment happening in real time. Together, we explore her transition from a high-energy era of hyper-focus and performance to a life rooted in presence, softness, and curiosity. After years of building a highly successful diversity, equity, and inclusion coaching business that relied heavily on her constant presence and an unsustainable pace, Trudi faced a physical, mental, and political shift. This realization forced a reckoning with her relationship to ambition and led her to close out her previous program infrastructure in favor of a simpler, more creative, and community-focused model. This conversation is about moving away from constant output toward a deeper, more intentional way of being. You'll Discover * The Energy Shift in Your 40s: Trudi reflects on the specific physical and mental changes that occurred after she turned 40, marking a sharp decline in her ability to rely on overdrive to get things done. * From Survival to Wandering: A look at how Trudi is transitioning from a lifetime focused on survival, young motherhood, and constant work to a season where she allows herself the space to create, wonder, and explore. * Acceptance Over Fixing: The importance of recognizing when your body says "no more" and learning to honor those boundaries instead of pushing through unexpected medical emergencies and burnout. * The Power of Active Choice: How moving too fast can blind us to alternative paths, and the importance of making conscious, aligned choices for your future. Key Themes * Creative and professional evolution often requires catching the urge to scale endlessly and returning to simplicity and authentic alignment. * Internalized pressure to constantly perform and hold space for others can be shed in favor of a softer, more intellectual, and collaborative approach to life and work. * Trust and community serve as the foundation for navigating life's major transitions and building spaces where people truly belong through active contribution. Trudi's Reflection There is a certain kind of power in realizing that the structures you built, as successful as they were, no longer fit the person you are becoming. Moving from a lifetime of intense responsibility into a season of creative freedom is terrifying, but it is the only way to earn true ease. This story is a reminder that we can stop outrunning our changes and instead start asking different questions about what is possible next. Trudi's Offerings: * Email: hello@trudilebron.com [hello@trudilebron.com] * Community: The Residency by Trudi Lebrón: https://trudilebron.com/the-residency-membership [https://trudilebron.com/the-residency-membership] * Join The Residency Membership and come as part of your membership * Grab a ticket to the Salon: https://trudilebron.thrivecart.com/summersalon [https://trudilebron.thrivecart.com/summersalon?utm_id=97758_v0_s00_e231_tv2_tp1_a1dennhbad59js&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBExUElHRTRFTUdZRFlWTHB4SHNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR7sqB4rY7egv1KBK13mCJE1dQM-T76UKD4BRqewcCZ6XVYIX5Z_ZHqMQ-nFJg_aem_APriKvKIphUXvu-o0el6MQ] About the Host: This podcast is hosted by Trudi Lebrón — writer, entrepreneur, and CEO. A former teen mom turned award-winning author and equity-centered business strategist, Trudi has spent more than two decades designing transformational experiences that reshape how we live, lead, and build community. As the author of The Antiracist Business Book and founder of Transformation by Design, she works at the intersection of psychology, culture, and leadership to help individuals and organizations align their impact with their values. Trudi is also the co-founder of bougieferal.com [https://bougieferal.com/], a lifestyle and learning brand reclaiming luxury, liberation, and wild creative power for women of color. To learn more about Trudi, get on her email list at trudilebron.com. [https://trudilebron.com] Join the Conversation: Has this episode sparked something in you? Trudi invites you to: * Leave a review and share how this conversation resonated with you * Share this podcast with a leader, coach, or creator who is Ambitious and Exhausted. Let's Connect: 🌐 trudilebron.com [https://www.trudilebron.com/] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trudilebron [https://www.instagram.com/trudilebron] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trudilebron/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/trudilebron/] Working Hypothesis: https://trudilebron.com/ [https://trudilebron.com/] Credits: Intro and outro music: "Come Give Me Love" by King Sis (Epidemic Sound) A Crackers In Soup [https://crackersinsoup.com/] production.

4. "Oh, That's So Cute...Not Happening": Lindsay Dotzlaf on the Acceptance of a New Pace and the Art of the Life Redesign

In this episode of Trudi Lebrón is Ambitious and Exhausted, Trudi sits down with Lindsay Dotzlaf—a coach and entrepreneur who is navigating a profound season of personal and professional realignment. Together, they explore the transition from a high-energy "overdrive" era of hyper-focus and performance to a life rooted in presence, softness, and curiosity. After years of building a successful coaching business that relied on her ability to crank out work at an unsustainable pace, Lindsay faced a physical and energetic shift around the age of 42. This realization forced a reckoning with her relationship to ambition and led her to dismantle her previous program infrastructure in favor of a simpler, more effective membership model. When Trudi observed Lindsay quietly redesigning her life and business, she knew this conversation about moving away from constant output toward a deeper, more intentional way of being was essential. You'll Discover * The Energy Shift at 42: Lindsay and Trudi compare notes on the specific physical and mental changes that occur in their early 40s, marking the end of the ability to rely on "overdrive" to get things done. * Unwinding the Performance of Perfection: A look at how Lindsay transitioned from a high-anxiety overachiever to someone who prioritizes internal alignment over outward appearance. * Acceptance Over Fixing: The importance of recognizing that a shift in drive is a permanent state to work with, rather than a problem to be solved with supplements or better workouts. * The Power of Curiosity: Lindsay's primary tool for navigating transition is inviting curiosity rather than judgment when exploring what she truly wants for the future. Key Themes * Creative and professional evolution often requires catching the urge to overcomplicate and returning to simplicity. * Internalized pressure to perform constantly can be shed in favor of a "softer" approach to life and work. * Trust and collaboration serve as the foundation for selecting professional partners and navigating life's "emergencies" with ease. Featured Voice Lindsay Dotzlaf, coach, entrepreneur, and podcast host. Her work focuses on mastering coaching skills and helping business owners navigate their professional journeys with clarity and transparency. Where to Find Lindsay * Website: lindsaydotzlafcoaching.com * Podcast: Mastering Coaching Skills * Newsletter: Full Disclosure, a space for processing the behind-the-scenes of life and business * Instagram: @lindsaydotzlaf Trudi's Reflection There is a certain kind of person who makes you feel like everything is going to be just fine, not because they are glossing over the hard parts, but because they have done the work to earn that ease. Lindsay's story is a reminder that we can stop outrunning our changes and instead start asking different questions about what is possible next. About the Host: This podcast is hosted by Trudi Lebrón — writer, entrepreneur, and CEO. A former teen mom turned award-winning author and equity-centered business strategist, Trudi has spent more than two decades designing transformational experiences that reshape how we live, lead, and build community. As the author of The Antiracist Business Book and founder of Transformation by Design, she works at the intersection of psychology, culture, and leadership to help individuals and organizations align their impact with their values. Trudi is also the co-founder of bougieferal.com [https://bougieferal.com/], a lifestyle and learning brand reclaiming luxury, liberation, and wild creative power for women of color. To learn more about Trudi, get on her email list at trudilebron.com. [https://trudilebron.com] Join the Conversation: Has this episode sparked something in you? Trudi invites you to: 1. Leave a review and share how this conversation resonated with you 2. Share this podcast with a leader, coach, or creator who is Ambitious and Exhausted. Let's Connect: 🌐 trudilebron.com [https://www.trudilebron.com/] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trudilebron [https://www.instagram.com/trudilebron] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trudilebron/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/trudilebron/] Working Hypothesis: https://trudilebron.com/ [https://trudilebron.com/] Credits: Intro and outro music: "Come Give Me Love" by King Sis (Epidemic Sound) A Crackers In Soup [https://crackersinsoup.com/] production.

3. "When All the Girl Bosses Woke Up": Tarzan Kay on the Reckoning of Ambition and the Return to Self

In this episode of Trudi Lebrón is Ambitious and Exhausted, Trudi sits down with Tarzan Kay—a consent-based email marketing expert who is navigating a profound season of personal and professional realignment. Together, they explore the transition from the high-energy "Girl Boss" era of sparkle pants and stages to a life rooted in presence, song, and community. After years of building a million-dollar business that demanded her constant mental energy, Tarzan faced a series of "Covid casualties," including a divorce and the loss of her brother. These events forced a reckoning with conventional ambition and led her to dismantle her large team in favor of a more sustainable, collaborative model. When Trudi saw Tarzan sharing this "public reckoning" with her newsletter subscribers, she knew this conversation about realigning work with core values was essential. You'll Discover * Song as a Revolutionary Tool: Tarzan shares how leading song circles has created a collective nervous system calming that surpasses anything she experienced in traditional business settings. * The Cost of High Ambition: Reflecting on her "peak ambition" years, Tarzan discusses the mental fog that left a two-year gap in her memories of her children's early lives. * Navigating the "Darkness" of Transition: The importance of "sitting in the dark" during periods of change rather than rushing to fix or produce, moving away from the colonial capitalist drive for constant output. * Redefining Success Through Presence: How simple joys—like sitting on the floor by the fireplace with her children—have replaced the desire for luxury supports like nannies and house cleaners. Key Themes * Creative evolution often requires a period of total stillness and non-production. * Internalized capitalism often disguises itself as a resistance to rest. * Accountability with a collaborative team can help maintain boundaries around your time and energy. * Impact can be measured by the depth of trust in personal relationships as much as professional reach. * Consent-based marketing focuses on honoring values and building genuine relationships over high-pressure tactics. Featured Book 1. Artists in Times of War by Howard Zinn. [https://www.amazon.com/Artists-Times-War-Open-Media/dp/1583226028/ref=sr_1_1?adgrpid=1341406677909530&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.DsIEn_y_wgZqMM4znp8S0wLpXcAYkx4vFPtCdU0-9yafkDuLjrF6ggcTCLz6xacEl05GyKtcBdDG9UTRrMI-JNtmDIH-T6hJIHSM10JJ6YvCIA96ARy_wycoZ9q7_yxEtZ5LIRSlNqwjVbv_IbZUMrr8UfhNcRLdTgsbx8zy3xtlW-cZlqng1k1Ov1SW1bYsIoJuQfMgrucMq4eYBXox2HEMYX7BSilw0zyz0L_4NF8.g3RSltBpsweLSffC2PG8B6kRUsBkXvUieforoTo3QvQ&dib_tag=se&hvadid=83838192659874&hvbmt=bp&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=51468&hvnetw=o&hvqmt=p&hvtargid=kwd-83839047517175%3Aloc-190&hydadcr=24598_13770262&keywords=howard+zinn+artists+in+times+of+war&mcid=43accb0f093d3743b478ffad224463ff&msclkid=8410fee91f3c1f2a396a97000222df89&qid=1776885116&sr=8-1] Where to Find Tarzan 1. Newsletter: Emails, but Better: https://tarzankay.com/newsletter [https://tarzankay.com/newsletter] 2. Event: The GirlBoss Apology Tour replay will be available for free from April 24th-27th. Click here to get on the waitlist: https://myrootabl.com/r/m8u6HB96?rootabl=trudil [https://myrootabl.com/r/m8u6HB96?rootabl=trudil] Trudi's Reflection "There's something happening with the people I'm drawn to right now—they're all stepping away from something and finding their way back in new forms. Tarzan's story reminds me that the systems we build aren't just about efficiency. They're about creating the space to be human when life demands it." About the Host: This podcast is hosted by Trudi Lebrón — writer, entrepreneur, and CEO. A former teen mom turned award-winning author and equity-centered business strategist, Trudi has spent more than two decades designing transformational experiences that reshape how we live, lead, and build community. As the author of The Antiracist Business Book and founder of Transformation by Design, she works at the intersection of psychology, culture, and leadership to help individuals and organizations align their impact with their values. Trudi is also the co-founder of bougieferal.com [https://bougieferal.com/], a lifestyle and learning brand reclaiming luxury, liberation, and wild creative power for women of color. To learn more about Trudi, get on her email list at trudilebron.com. [https://trudilebron.com] Join the Conversation: Has this episode sparked something in you? Trudi invites you to: 1. Leave a review and share how this conversation resonated with you 2. Share this podcast with a leader, coach, or creator who is Ambitious and Exhausted. Let's Connect: 🌐 trudilebron.com [https://www.trudilebron.com/] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trudilebron [https://www.instagram.com/trudilebron] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trudilebron/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/trudilebron/] Working Hypothesis: https://trudilebron.com/ [https://trudilebron.com/] Credits: Intro and outro music: "Come Give Me Love" by King Sis (Epidemic Sound) A Crackers In Soup [https://crackersinsoup.com/] production.

2. "I Had to Shed This Skin": Adrienne Dorison on Letting Go to Come Back

In this episode of Trudi Lebrón is Ambitious and Exhausted, Trudi sits down with Adrienne Dorison—co-founder of Run Like Clockwork and now founder of Level 11 Leaders—who's emerging from her own period of quiet transformation. Together, they explore what happens when the systems you build actually work, when life forces you to step back, and how ambition and exhaustion dance together in the lives of high-achieving women. After years of building a business designed to run without her, Adrienne found herself needing exactly that: space to navigate a divorce, raise young children, and reconnect with the parts of her work that still lit her up. What emerged was a new company, a new podcast, and a clearer understanding of what she actually wants to create. When Trudi noticed Adrienne re-emerging online with fresh energy and new clarity, she knew this was a conversation worth having. You'll Discover Systems Create Space for the Unexpected: Adreanne's investment in building a business that could run without her gave her the breathing room to weather personal upheaval—a divorce, young children, and a creative reckoning—without everything falling apart. Ambition and Exhaustion May Be Inextricably Linked: Both Trudi and Adrienne grapple with the reality that the drive to do more never quite turns off. The question isn't how to eliminate it, but how to create enough white space to hold it without burning out. Restraint Is a Leadership Skill: Letting your team make mistakes, shutting your mouth when you want to speak, and stepping back so others can step up isn't weakness—it's what allows a business (and a leader) to grow beyond one person's capacity. Key Themes * Creative suffocation can signal it's time for evolution, not abandonment. * The "shoulds" can be released; the "wants" are harder to quiet. * White space on your calendar isn't laziness—it's where better ideas live. * Parking lot your ideas: tend to them like a garden, not a to-do list. * Your self-care cocktail is yours to discover. There's no universal formula. Featured Voice Adrienne Dorison, operations strategist, leadership coach, and founder of Level 11 Leaders. Her work centers on creating workplaces that don't suck—helping accidental leaders become intentional ones through better systems and stronger people skills. Where to Find Adrienne 1. Podcast: Sort of Bossy (available on Apple, Spotify, and sortofbossy.com) 2. Website: Level11Leaders.com Trudi's Reflection "There's something happening with the people I'm drawn to right now—they're all stepping away from something and finding their way back in new forms. Adrianne's story reminds me that the systems we build aren't just about efficiency. They're about creating the space to be human when life demands it." About the Host: This podcast is hosted by Trudi Lebrón — writer, entrepreneur, and CEO. A former teen mom turned award-winning author and equity-centered business strategist, Trudi has spent more than two decades designing transformational experiences that reshape how we live, lead, and build community. As the author of The Antiracist Business Book and founder of Transformation by Design, she works at the intersection of psychology, culture, and leadership to help individuals and organizations align their impact with their values. Trudi is also the co-founder of bougieferal.com [https://bougieferal.com/], a lifestyle and learning brand reclaiming luxury, liberation, and wild creative power for women of color. To learn more about Trudi, get on her email list at trudilebron.com. [https://trudilebron.com] Join the Conversation: Has this episode sparked something in you? Trudi invites you to: 1. Leave a review and share how this conversation resonated with you 2. Share this podcast with a leader, coach, or creator who is Ambitious and Exhausted. Let's Connect: 🌐 trudilebron.com [https://www.trudilebron.com/] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trudilebron [https://www.instagram.com/trudilebron] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trudilebron/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/trudilebron/] Working Hypothesis: https://trudilebron.com/ [https://trudilebron.com/] Credits: Intro and outro music: "Come Give Me Love" by King Sis (Epidemic Sound) A Crackers In Soup [https://crackersinsoup.com/] production.